Obesity and the Economics of Prevention
Subtitle: Fit not Fat
By: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Paris
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource]:
Number of pages: 268
ISBN-13: 9789264084865
Subjects: Social Issues/Migration/Health
Description: Before 1980, rates were generally well below 10%. They have since doubled or tripled in many countries, and in almost half of the OECD, 50% or more of the population is overweight.  A key risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, obesity is a major public health concern.    This book contributes to evidence-based policy making by exploring multiple dimensions of the obesity problem. It examines the scale and characteristics of the epidemic, the respective roles and influence of market forces and governments, and the impact of interventions. It outlines an economic approach to the prevention of chronic diseases that provides novel insights relative to a more traditional public health approach.  The analysis was undertaken by the OECD, partly in collaboration with the World Health Organization. The main chapters are complemented by special contributions from health and obesity experts, including Marc Suhrcke, Tim Lobstein, Donald Kenkel and Francesco Branca.  "a valuable set of results and suggestions about the best preventive interventions to reduce the burden of obesity."   – Julio Frenk, Dean, Harvard School of Public Health   "The positive message of this book is that the obesity epidemic can be successfully addressed."   – Ala Alwan, Assistant Director-General, World Health Organization   "innovative and well-researched"  – Martin McKee, Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine  
Table of contents: title: Foreword; title: Acknowledgements; title: Abbreviations; title: Executive Summary; title: Introduction: Obesity and the Economics of Prevention; title: Promoting Health and Fighting Chronic Diseases: What Impact on the Economy?; title: Obesity: Past and Projected Future Trends; title: The Social Dimensions of Obesity; title: The Size and Risks of the International Epidemic of Child Obesity; title: How Does Obesity Spread?; title: Are Health Behaviors Driven by Information?; title: Tackling Obesity: The Roles of Governments and Markets; title: Community Interventions for the Prevention of Obesity; title: The Impact of Interventions; title: Perspectives on the Regulation of Food Advertising to Children; title: Information, Incentives and Choice: A Viable Approach to Preventing Obesity; title: The Case for Self-Regulation in Food Advertising; title: Annex A. Supplementary Figures and Tables; title: Annex B. Author's and Contributors' Biographies.